The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-11-04
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
woMAn.s WORK AND WAGES

woMAN's WORK AND WAGES
An Interesting Dsseussien Of .. Inpertsas
subIect-Womsn Suffer from Lack Of
ssPush."
Women's wages is q perennial sub
ject for discussion with social philoso-
pliers, would-be reformers and that
portion Of the public that takes an
amiable interest in affairs with which
It has nothing to do. The persons
most commemorative working women
themselves and their employers-are
seldom heard from in regard to the
matter.
Out Of all that is said an occasional
word of wisdom may be Cleaned. but
a vast deal of nonsense is uttered
and many inconsequent conclusions
reached. A newspaper in Milwaukee.
for instance, and one too, usually dis
tinguished for its good sense. lays
down the law that it is just and right
that man should receive more pay
than woman for the same work. be-
cause "mcn generally support families
while women do not, or when they do
the families are smaller than the av-
erage family supported by man."
This argument would be more i'm
pressive and convincing were it not for
the fact that men doing equal work are
paid equal wages without regard to
their condition in life, whether they
are married or single or whether they
have others dependent upon them.
Very seldom is the slightest discrimina-
ton made between male workers on
this account; and when it is attempted
protest is swift to come. not only from
the unmarried laborer, but from his
fellow-laborers who are heads Of fami-
lies. 1t is felt to be unjust, and 1t is
promptly urged and insisted upon
that the pay is to be regulated by the
service performed and not by the per-
sonal needs of the worker.
One point on which the students OF
social phenomena agree in accounting
for the low wages paid to women is
that women labor under the disadvan-
tages Of a traditional opinion which
assigns them to an inferior position in
the worlds economy. Owing to this.
1t is argued that men find it difficult to
acknowledge their work to be equal.
or. doing so, to admit that they de-
serve like compensation. Unques-
tionably this feeling does exist. Many,
even among those who pride them
selves upon their iberality of sentiment,
are unconsciously affected by it, and
prejudiced against the practical opera
ton of their beautiful theories of the
equality ofthe sexes. A glazing proof
of the existence of this belief is seen in
the Government service at Washing
ton. where hundreds of women. work
ing side by side with men or succeed
ing to desks formerly occupied by men.
and doing the same work. receive sal
aries only half as large. The Govern
ment departments being. it is COM
monty supposed, under control of the
most enlightened men of the country,
what can be expected of private individ.
uals whose self-interesti is in a perpetua-
ton of the prejudice?
There is however, a feature OF thu
matter seldom touched on in disserta-
tons on the subject, which accounts il
part for the disadvantages under which
women labor. and removes portion
of the blame from the shoulders of mel
where it is usually placed.
1t is but just to say that women arr
themselves partially responsible TO
> the expressions to which they are sub
iect. Whether it is an indication o.
: inferiority. or the result of generation
l IF masculine supremacy. it is true tina
5 qualities inherent in the nature o
4 women impedes their progress as wage
: earners. Most women lack self asser
, lion. and are timid about pushing thei
own claims to preferment They ar
1 also submissive to the existing orde
t Of things-not to the extent of accept
= Ing it rs right but to degree whicl
Q makes it difficult for reformers +
. rouse them to active protest. Now
n It is the way of the business world tina
a the msn who succeeds financially. VIII
: gets the high salaries, whose service
+ are eagerly sought for. whose opinion
+ carry weight. is self-confident. sell
!. assertive and quick to demand hi
y rights. The first two traits lead tn
}. community in general and his EN- 10y
y ers in particular to accept him at hi
= own valuations; compliance with hi
= claims, after that is matter of cOurs'
l. It is desirable that merit howeve
It modest. should be recognized and dull
+ appreciated; but unfortunately. tn
g is not apt to be the case. 1t is only j
e Sunday-school books and apocryph;
q tales related for the encouragement I
l. youth that the rich merchant of b
;. own motion, rapidly advances h
i worthy employees and takes the mo-
te talented into partnership without 81
& licitation. In real life the favored or
g insists directly and indirectly that !
t is entitled to the promotion. and CT
n ates the impression that he is the OF
l. that renders the service by acceptir
70 the advancement Women are not Il
\ only ones who suffer from lack of Il
70 quality known as push" The wor
at is full of men who have plodded o
ID half recompensed, through lifetin
rs of labor. while early companions wi
G. far less ability have. by sheer force
ne self-sufficiency and self-assertion. gol
as on to wealth and prosperity.
~ Women, however, are uniform
VI timid. and, as class. are under d
W advantage in the struggle for live